From a Peterborough Lakefield Community Police Service﻿ Media Release today...

Photo from the scene courtesy Pete DallidayTheft/Police Pursuit Arrest:On the 1st of May at approximately 11:38 am, security at Sears watched a male leave the store with a pair of shoes without paying for them. The male was followed out to the parking lot and as the security officer placed him under arrest he drove off in a van. A police officer in the area on an unrelated matter was alerted to incident. The suspect drove out of the parking lot in a reckless manner. The officer followed the van on several streets as suspect attempted to evade the officer. Due to the risk to public safety, the officer discontinued pursuing the vehicle at 11:48 am in the area of George and Lake Street. The van continued north on George Street at a high rate of speed and then west on Sherbrooke Street. The van entered the intersection at Reid Street on a red light and struck a vehicle, it continued westbound striking a vehicle parked in a driveway in the area of Park Street and continued northbound onto Park Place, west along Bolivar Street losing control and struck a street sign and a tree. The suspect fled on foot and was followed by a witness through backyards and over fences to the area of Park and Brock Street where the suspect stopped running and waited in the area for police to arrive. Jeffrey Edward Kearley age 45 of Lindsay Road was arrested. He was treated at the hospital for minor injuries. As a result of the investigation, he has been charged with theft under $5,000.00, possession of stolen property under $5,000.00, escape lawful custody, take flight from the police, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, three counts of failing to remain at the scene of an accident, failing to comply with conditions of a probation order, drive under suspension, drive with no insurance and using a licence plate not authorized for the vehicle. The driver and passenger in the vehicle that was struck in the intersection suffered minor injuries. Kearley was held in custody and will appear in court later this morning.